How to Water an Apricot Tree

Apricots usually ripen in May through June.

Apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca) do well in most areas that experience relatively cold winters, such as continental climates with an average winter high of 25-degrees Fahrenheit, and the climates of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, which have an average winter low of 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Like all fruit trees, apricots require proper nutrition, diligent pruning, pest management and regular watering to produce an optimal yield and aesthetic appeal.

1

Insert the probe of a moisture meter 6 inches into the soil at the base of the apricot tree. You must water the tree when the meter reads between four and seven, indicating moist soil to a depth of 6 inches. Most moisture meters have a needle that points to the following gradations when inserted in soil: one through three, represented in red numerals, indicates dry; four through seven, represented in green numerals, indicates moist; eight through 10, indicated in black numerals, represents wet. Rinse and dry the probe to use after watering.

2

Water the soil around the base of the apricot tree to a depth of 6 feet. It takes between 10.8 to 16.875 inches of water to reach a depth of 6 feet in clay soil, and it takes 1 gallon of water per square foot to reach a depth of 12 inches. Therefore it takes 64.8 gallons and 101.25 gallons of water per square foot to water the soil to a depth of 6 feet. Sandy or gravelly soils require less water, approximately 30 to 40 gallons.

3

Test the soil every 10 to 14 days for moisture content depending on precipitation in your area, as rainfall counts toward the water requirements for an apricot tree.

4

Spread 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch, such as composted wood chips, in a circle over the apricot tree’s root system after watering. Maintain a mulch-free space of 6 inches around the base of the tree on all sides. The mulch acts as insulation that improves the water retention of the soil.

Things You Will Need

Moisture meter

Organic mulch

Tips

Methods of watering include using a drip- or micro-sprinkler and basin irrigation. Basin irrigation, ideal for soils with poor water-infiltration rates, requires building a berm 2 feet outside the drip line or spread of the tree and another berm about 1 foot around the trunk of the tree, then watering the trench shallowly between the berms. Drip- and micro-sprinklers are useful when irrigating an orchard, as they conserve more water than a hose.

The fog common to some areas of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10 increases moisture content in the soil, resulting in a need for less water. Diligent use of a moisture meter prior to watering and adjusting the amount of water in accordance with the reading helps prevent overwatering.

Warnings

Refrain from watering the crown of the trunk, the area of the trunk above the soil line but under the main trunk.

Avoid overwatering the tree. Overwatering prevents adequate amounts of oxygen from reaching the roots, drowning the tree; it creates an environment conducive to fungal diseases; and it causes the roots to rot. Signs of overwatering include wilted or yellow leaves, limited fruit production and a proliferation of moisture-related pests.

Don't water in the time frame between the first leaf drop in autumn and the first growth of shoots and leaves in spring.

About the Author

A.J. Andrews' work has appeared in Food and Wine, Fricote and "BBC Good Food." He lives in Europe where he bakes with wild yeast, milks goats for cheese and prepares for the Court of Master Sommeliers level II exam. Andrews received formal training at Le Cordon Bleu.